There is nothing like experiencing an authentic German Christmas market, especially in Munich, Germany! During the month of December, wooden chalet stands gleam throughout the city and it’s the perfect destination to cozy up and have a good time with friends.
Visiting the Christmas markets in Munich will leave you gleaming with joy! Warm up to heartwarming glühwein, which is a German spiced mulled wine; savor delicious bratwurst sandwiches; purchase a locally-made souvenir for your loved ones back home; make memories with friends and enjoy a tasty gingerbread cookie as a treat!
My German Christmas market trip to Munich was my very first time at a Christkindlmarkt (Christmas market in German) and I fell in love! Since then, I’ve been doing a Christmas market trip every year.
Not only do I adore the fairytale feeling of being in Europe, I also LOVE Christmastime, so you could imagine how excited I was to embark on a Christmas market tour.
My 2018 European Christmas adventures started in Munich, Germany. From there, I explored Neuschwanstein Castle in rural Bavaria. After spending a few days in Germany, I took a train to Salzburg and Hallstatt in the Austrian Alps. Then, I took a five hour train ride to Budapest, Hungary. From the magical city of Budapest, I spent a day in Bratislava, Slovakia and ended in Vienna, Austria.
In this article, discover the best and most authentic German Christmas markets in Munich.
**Please note that this blog post uses affiliate links meaning that if you make a purchase via my affiliate link, I receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. I only promote and talk about products and services that I have used and like. During my time in Munich, Hotel Laimer Hof hosted me.
Pin the Below Image to Keep Handy
Where to Stay during a Munich Christmas:
Not only did the beautiful city of Munich, the magical Christmas markets and the enchanting Neuschwanstein Castle make me feel like I was living a real life fairytale, so did the hotel I stayed in!
Even though I explored the German Christmas markets my first day and did a private tour of Neuschwanstein Castle the second day, I spent both nights in the city of Munich.
During my time in Munich, I stayed at Hotel Laimer Hof, located near Schloss Nymphenburg. Not only is Hotel Laimer Hof one of the best boutique hotels in Munich, according to Culture Trip and other sources, it is gorgeous and looks like it’s straight out of a storybook!
Hotel Laimer Hof is a family-run boutique hotel that is situated in one of the finest areas of the city.
When I first arrived in Munich, I was greeted with an amazing German breakfast and some cozy lattes. The staff at Hotel Laimer Hof also provided me with some wonderful adventure ideas to ensure my stay in the Bavarian region was one to remember!
The rooms at Hotel Laimer Hof are romantic and cozy!
Traveling around Munich, Bavaria:
Traveling to Munich, Germany for the German Christmas markets was easy. I flew from Newark Airport in New Jersey to Munich International Airport with a layover in Lisbon. You can find affordable flights through Skyscanner!
During my time in Munich, I traveled around via the MVV Munich tramway. In fact, it’s the best way to get from Munich Airport to the city center. The staff at Hotel Laimer Hof helped me navigate the tram during my first day, which I was thankful for.
Overall, the tram is easy to figure out! One major piece of advice to help save money when you travel is by figuring out your prospective city’s public transit system since city taxis and ride sharing apps could be costly and add up!
Most cities are easy to navigate and there will always be people willing to help you out! When I was ready to leave Munich to head to my next destination, I took the tramway to the Munich Hauptbahnhof, which is the major train station.
From Munich, you could take day trips to other cities in Bavaria or easily travel to different countries in Europe. I got all of my train tickets in advance at a super affordable price via Omio. If you’re looking to do a road trip around Germany and Central Europe, it’s best to rent a car.
An important factor to take into consideration about renting a car in Germany (or anywhere in the European Union) is that you will need to have an international diver’s permit in addition to your regular license. I don’t know how the process works for every single country out there, but for U.S. residents, you could easily obtain one by going to your local AAA office.
German Christmas Markets in Munich:
Advent season in Europe are the days between late November leading up to Christmas Day. Discover all of the details regarding Munich’s markets this Christmas season! The Munich Christmas market dates for 2022 are November 21 through December 24.
If are wondering when do the Christmas markets start in Germany and are planning to visit the German Christmas market in Munich, it is recommended that you travel between that time period so you don’t miss them. One thing to note is that Germany’s “holiday” season ends the day after Christmas Day, whereas here in the United States, it ends the day after New Year’s Day.
Unfortunately, if you are waiting for Christmas break of the school year to travel to the German Christmas markets in Munich and beyond, you will be out of luck.
Also known as München in German, Munich’s Christmas market in Marienplatz is one of the oldest in the world and one of the most beautiful!
At the Munich Xmas market, you will find classic wooden stands that hold eye-catching ornaments, handmade trinkets, Christmas village houses, jewelry and more!
Not only could you find the perfect Christmas décor for your home, you could also savor unlimited glühwein, which is a hot spiced wine, as well as other German food staples such as sausage, pretzels, gingerbread cookies, strudel, chocolates and plenty more!
Munich’s Marienplatz German Christmas Market:
Munich’s main Christkindlmarkt can be found in the main square of the city called Marienplatz. It is a must-visit when you visit Munich in December!
Since this market is located in the heart of the city, it is the most crowded compared to others. I honestly had no idea that Munich’s German Christmas market would be that crowded, but I also had to consider the fact that I visited it on a Saturday as well. If you don’t want to deal with crazy crowds, it’s best to visit during a weekday.
One of my favorite parts of this market was the spectacular view of Neues Rathaus. This timeless town hall hosts the city government, including the council, offices of the mayors and even administration. It makes for the perfect backdrop to this market and the gorgeous Christmas tree is an epic addition! In fact, you can admire this breathtaking tree that shines bright in Marienplatz every Munich December.
Residenz Christmas Village (Weihnachtsdorf im Kaiserhof der Residenz):
As the former royal palace of the Wittelsbach monarchs of Bavaria, the Residenz is the largest city palace in Germany and offers unique architecture to admire.
Located in the Kaiserhof (imperial court) of the Residenz is a Christmas village with a wonderful selection of different vendors. What I really loved about this mini German Christmas market in Munich is that there was a live choir performing to add to all the magic.
It’s the top underrated Munich Christmas market location and it’s a great spot for children to enjoy! You can see Hansel and Gretel in the fairytale forest, enjoy a handicraft workshop and catch a puppet show at the Residenz Christmas markets in Munich during 2022.
What is cool is that you could also walk through Residenz palace during Christmas in Munich, Germany! Not only will you learn all about the Wittelsbach family, you can also admire the ornate architecture. Please note that this experience takes over an hour.
Rindermarkt:
Situated right off of Munich’s Marienplatz is a lovely walkway with some beautiful German Christmas markets along with festive decorations. This area is called Rindermarkt and some of my favorite decorations here were the stars hanging from the trees along with all of the stringed lights!
German Christmas Markets in Old Town Munich:
Throughout the Old Town of Munich, there are many wooden stands where you could grab some German Christmas goodies. There are also plenty of places where you could gather around with friends and enjoy glühwein and authentic German beer while making memories.
Another great, but smaller, German Christmas market in Munich is Sendlinger Tor, which is one of the only few remaining gates from the city’s former fortifications. At this quaint market, you can admire a beautiful Nativity scene, shop from different scented candles and enjoy delicious food and drinks!
After enjoying the German Christmas markets, you cannot miss out on visiting one of Munich’s biergartens! One of the best places to experience Munich’s beer scene is at Hofbräuhaus, which is the largest biergarten in the world. In fact, it is at Hofbräuhaus where the famous Oktoberfest event takes place in late September into early October every year.
During the Advent season, all of the biergartens are festively decorated! They are the perfect place to hangout and have a good time after experiencing the magic at the German Christmas markets in Munich.
Even though there are many parts of the city that are modern due to the aftermath of World War II, there are still a lot of wonderful Baroque Catholic churches and historical buildings to see. I loved the Theatine Church in the city the most!
Where to Eat in Munich at Christmas:
Typical German food mainly consist of sausage, schnitzel (breaded veal or chicken cutlets), spätzle (German pasta), dumplings, roasted meats and vegetables. In regards to drinks, beer is the number one choice in Bavaria. Germans also appreciate a good glass of wine as well!
During my time in Munich, I savored authentic German food at Hotel Laimer Hof. They also recommended an authentic local restaurant in walking distance to the hotel called Wirtshaus Kurgarten. At this authentic German restaurant, I enjoyed a delicious spätzle dish with fried onions and a light gravy. It was delicious!
In addition to the delicious food at the German Christmas markets, you must enjoy these authentic Munich restaurants:
- Steinheil 16 (German Austrian Restaurant)
- Pepe Nero (Italian Restaurant)
- L’Osteria (Italian Restaurant)
- Dallmayr Delicatessen (German Deli and Café)
- Ratskeller (German Restaurant)
- Vinaiolo (Mediterranean Restaurant)
Enjoy a Day Trip to Neuschwanstein Castle from Munich in December:
In addition to experiencing the German Christmas markets in Munich, I also recommend touring Neuschwanstein Castle during your time in Bavaria!
On my second day in Germany, I booked a private tour from Munich to Neuschwanstein Castle. The reason why I booked a tour is because there is no easy way to get to this part of Bavaria unless you rent a car, which I did not. There is also no major train station near the castle to keep in mind.
I had been admiring this enchanting castle on the Internet for years, so it was a dream come true for me to see it in person for the first time!
I met my tour group in the Munich Hauptbahnhof and we took a private bus to the Bavarian town of Hohenschwangau, which was an hour and 45 minutes southwest of Munich, near the Austrian border.
On our way to the castle, we passed through storybook towns as well as the gorgeous German mountainside.
Eventually, we spotted a little castle on the mountain from afar and immediately recognized it as Neuschwanstein! It was breathtaking from a distance, so I couldn’t wait to see what it looked like up close.
When we first got to the town, we grabbed a quick lunch since the tour was going to take us a few hours. If you are visiting Neuschwanstein Castle on your own, I suggest checking out one of the adorable restaurants located in Hohenschwangau.
Since my group was in a hurry, there was a great sausage stand right outside of Hotel Alpenstuben. I got a bratwurst sandwich with some pomme frites (fries) and it was yummy!
After lunch, our tour started. The best part about the tour was that our guide, who was super enthusiastic, made an entertaining story out of the day.
Prior to visiting the castle, I had the slightest clue on the history behind Neuschwanstein Castle. A cool fact about this castle is that it was the inspiration behind the Walt Disney World Castle!
Our first stop was to see the Alpsee Lake, which is a peaceful body of water with faint views of the Austrian Alps from afar.
After that, we went to a viewing point of where you could spot Hohenschwangau Castle. This castle dates back to the 12th century and was home to the knights of Schwangau. In the 19th century, Crown Prince Maximilian acquired the structure and rebuilt it as the stunning castle it is today.
After his death, his son Ludwig II designed the royal rooms. It is an enchanting castle and a cool site to see as well.
After learning the history behind Hohenschwangau Castle, we hiked an hour up the mountain (with a few stops in between) to the stunning Neuschwanstein Castle (there are also buses that will take you to Neuschwanstein Castle in case you cannot or do not want to do the hike).
When we finally reached the castle, I was awestruck by how beautiful it was. I even went inside, but unfortunately wasn’t allowed to take any photographs. There is an expanse history behind Neuschwanstein Castle and it all has to do with King Ludwig II of Bavaria.
In 1866 Bavaria allied with Austria having lost a war against the expanding Prussia, which was a German state. Bavaria had to accept an alliance, which removed the king’s right to dispose over his army in case of any future war.
From then on, Ludwig II was no longer a sovereign ruler. It ended up being the biggest misfortune of his legacy. In 1867, he began planning his own kingdom in the form of castles and palaces.
Since Ludwig loved hiking and spending time in nature, he built his castle so that it would be perfectly situated in the mountains. A cool fact about Neuschwanstein Castle is that Ludwig made it to be one of the most modern castles in the world. (There is running water and central heating!)
Ludwig lived comfortably and in solitude at Neuschwanstein Castle in Germany. On the contrary, the “poetic solitude” that he chose for himself was not compatible with his duties as a head of state.
In 1886, the government declared Ludwig mentally insane, arrested him in the castle and then sent him to Berg Palace to be treated. The next day, he died mysteriously in a nearby lake with the psychiatrist who certified him as insane. It is unknown if a murder suicide happened.
I was not expecting the history behind Neuschwanstein Castle to be that intense, but it made the experience more interesting.
After we left the castle, we walked over to Queen Mary’s Bridge where we enjoyed the best views of the castle. When we were finished taking photos, we found a shortcut down to the bottom of the mountain.
Overall, I had an amazing day at Neuschwanstein Castle even though it rained and snowed on us. It was a nice change-off from the incredible Germany Christmas markets in Munich!
I highly recommend signing up for a private day tour of this lovely castle if you are traveling to Munich or around Bavaria. It is 10 hours long and our awesome tour guide rewarded us with fresh Bavarian beer during the ride home. It was perfect!
Looking to visit other German Christmas markets? Check out the below:
Christmas Markets of Frankfurt and Cologne
Best Christmas Markets in Bavaria
I hope you all enjoyed reading about my time experiencing the magical German Christmas markets in Munich as well as my day trip to Neuschwanstein Castle. If you have any questions, please email me at info@browneyedflowerchild.com.
Basic Facts of Germany:
Currency: Euro, Capital: Berlin, Time Zone: Central European Standard Time
*Anything could happen during your travels. Always make sure you are insured in case there are unforeseen circumstances such as lost luggage/theft, natural disasters, personal liabilities and more. Click here to get insured for your next trip.
In addition, a great and secure luggage storage to utilize during your summer Europe trip is Nannybag! It is easy to use; all you do is download the Nannybag app, type in the city that you will be visiting and when you plan to arrive and depart. At a small cost per luggage, Nannybag will list the stores, restaurants or hotels where you could drop your bag off at the city you are visiting.
Nannybag is also insured against theft, loss and breakage. It’s a convenient way to store your bags when you are traveling from one city to the next in Europe.
Shop My Munich German Christmas Market Look:
Click here to shop my Poshmark closet!
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10 Comments
Leave a Comment
There is nothing like experiencing an authentic German Christmas market, especially in Munich, Germany! During the month of December, wooden chalet stands gleam throughout the city and it’s the perfect destination to cozy up and have a good time with friends.
Visiting the Christmas markets in Munich will leave you gleaming with joy! Warm up to heartwarming glühwein, which is a German spiced mulled wine; savor delicious bratwurst sandwiches; purchase a locally-made souvenir for your loved ones back home; make memories with friends and enjoy a tasty gingerbread cookie as a treat!
My German Christmas market trip to Munich was my very first time at a Christkindlmarkt (Christmas market in German) and I fell in love! Since then, I’ve been doing a Christmas market trip every year.
Not only do I adore the fairytale feeling of being in Europe, I also LOVE Christmastime, so you could imagine how excited I was to embark on a Christmas market tour.
My 2018 European Christmas adventures started in Munich, Germany. From there, I explored Neuschwanstein Castle in rural Bavaria. After spending a few days in Germany, I took a train to Salzburg and Hallstatt in the Austrian Alps. Then, I took a five hour train ride to Budapest, Hungary. From the magical city of Budapest, I spent a day in Bratislava, Slovakia and ended in Vienna, Austria.
In this article, discover the best and most authentic German Christmas markets in Munich.
**Please note that this blog post uses affiliate links meaning that if you make a purchase via my affiliate link, I receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. I only promote and talk about products and services that I have used and like. During my time in Munich, Hotel Laimer Hof hosted me.
Pin the Below Image to Keep Handy
Where to Stay during a Munich Christmas:
Not only did the beautiful city of Munich, the magical Christmas markets and the enchanting Neuschwanstein Castle make me feel like I was living a real life fairytale, so did the hotel I stayed in!
Even though I explored the German Christmas markets my first day and did a private tour of Neuschwanstein Castle the second day, I spent both nights in the city of Munich.
During my time in Munich, I stayed at Hotel Laimer Hof, located near Schloss Nymphenburg. Not only is Hotel Laimer Hof one of the best boutique hotels in Munich, according to Culture Trip and other sources, it is gorgeous and looks like it’s straight out of a storybook!
Hotel Laimer Hof is a family-run boutique hotel that is situated in one of the finest areas of the city.
When I first arrived in Munich, I was greeted with an amazing German breakfast and some cozy lattes. The staff at Hotel Laimer Hof also provided me with some wonderful adventure ideas to ensure my stay in the Bavarian region was one to remember!
The rooms at Hotel Laimer Hof are romantic and cozy!
Traveling around Munich, Bavaria:
Traveling to Munich, Germany for the German Christmas markets was easy. I flew from Newark Airport in New Jersey to Munich International Airport with a layover in Lisbon. You can find affordable flights through Skyscanner!
During my time in Munich, I traveled around via the MVV Munich tramway. In fact, it’s the best way to get from Munich Airport to the city center. The staff at Hotel Laimer Hof helped me navigate the tram during my first day, which I was thankful for.
Overall, the tram is easy to figure out! One major piece of advice to help save money when you travel is by figuring out your prospective city’s public transit system since city taxis and ride sharing apps could be costly and add up!
Most cities are easy to navigate and there will always be people willing to help you out! When I was ready to leave Munich to head to my next destination, I took the tramway to the Munich Hauptbahnhof, which is the major train station.
From Munich, you could take day trips to other cities in Bavaria or easily travel to different countries in Europe. I got all of my train tickets in advance at a super affordable price via Omio. If you’re looking to do a road trip around Germany and Central Europe, it’s best to rent a car.
An important factor to take into consideration about renting a car in Germany (or anywhere in the European Union) is that you will need to have an international diver’s permit in addition to your regular license. I don’t know how the process works for every single country out there, but for U.S. residents, you could easily obtain one by going to your local AAA office.
German Christmas Markets in Munich:
Advent season in Europe are the days between late November leading up to Christmas Day. Discover all of the details regarding Munich’s markets this Christmas season! The Munich Christmas market dates for 2022 are November 21 through December 24.
If are wondering when do the Christmas markets start in Germany and are planning to visit the German Christmas market in Munich, it is recommended that you travel between that time period so you don’t miss them. One thing to note is that Germany’s “holiday” season ends the day after Christmas Day, whereas here in the United States, it ends the day after New Year’s Day.
Unfortunately, if you are waiting for Christmas break of the school year to travel to the German Christmas markets in Munich and beyond, you will be out of luck.
Also known as München in German, Munich’s Christmas market in Marienplatz is one of the oldest in the world and one of the most beautiful!
At the Munich Xmas market, you will find classic wooden stands that hold eye-catching ornaments, handmade trinkets, Christmas village houses, jewelry and more!
Not only could you find the perfect Christmas décor for your home, you could also savor unlimited glühwein, which is a hot spiced wine, as well as other German food staples such as sausage, pretzels, gingerbread cookies, strudel, chocolates and plenty more!
Munich’s Marienplatz German Christmas Market:
Munich’s main Christkindlmarkt can be found in the main square of the city called Marienplatz. It is a must-visit when you visit Munich in December!
Since this market is located in the heart of the city, it is the most crowded compared to others. I honestly had no idea that Munich’s German Christmas market would be that crowded, but I also had to consider the fact that I visited it on a Saturday as well. If you don’t want to deal with crazy crowds, it’s best to visit during a weekday.
One of my favorite parts of this market was the spectacular view of Neues Rathaus. This timeless town hall hosts the city government, including the council, offices of the mayors and even administration. It makes for the perfect backdrop to this market and the gorgeous Christmas tree is an epic addition! In fact, you can admire this breathtaking tree that shines bright in Marienplatz every Munich December.
Residenz Christmas Village (Weihnachtsdorf im Kaiserhof der Residenz):
As the former royal palace of the Wittelsbach monarchs of Bavaria, the Residenz is the largest city palace in Germany and offers unique architecture to admire.
Located in the Kaiserhof (imperial court) of the Residenz is a Christmas village with a wonderful selection of different vendors. What I really loved about this mini German Christmas market in Munich is that there was a live choir performing to add to all the magic.
It’s the top underrated Munich Christmas market location and it’s a great spot for children to enjoy! You can see Hansel and Gretel in the fairytale forest, enjoy a handicraft workshop and catch a puppet show at the Residenz Christmas markets in Munich during 2022.
What is cool is that you could also walk through Residenz palace during Christmas in Munich, Germany! Not only will you learn all about the Wittelsbach family, you can also admire the ornate architecture. Please note that this experience takes over an hour.
Rindermarkt:
Situated right off of Munich’s Marienplatz is a lovely walkway with some beautiful German Christmas markets along with festive decorations. This area is called Rindermarkt and some of my favorite decorations here were the stars hanging from the trees along with all of the stringed lights!
German Christmas Markets in Old Town Munich:
Throughout the Old Town of Munich, there are many wooden stands where you could grab some German Christmas goodies. There are also plenty of places where you could gather around with friends and enjoy glühwein and authentic German beer while making memories.
Another great, but smaller, German Christmas market in Munich is Sendlinger Tor, which is one of the only few remaining gates from the city’s former fortifications. At this quaint market, you can admire a beautiful Nativity scene, shop from different scented candles and enjoy delicious food and drinks!
After enjoying the German Christmas markets, you cannot miss out on visiting one of Munich’s biergartens! One of the best places to experience Munich’s beer scene is at Hofbräuhaus, which is the largest biergarten in the world. In fact, it is at Hofbräuhaus where the famous Oktoberfest event takes place in late September into early October every year.
During the Advent season, all of the biergartens are festively decorated! They are the perfect place to hangout and have a good time after experiencing the magic at the German Christmas markets in Munich.
Even though there are many parts of the city that are modern due to the aftermath of World War II, there are still a lot of wonderful Baroque Catholic churches and historical buildings to see. I loved the Theatine Church in the city the most!
Where to Eat in Munich at Christmas:
Typical German food mainly consist of sausage, schnitzel (breaded veal or chicken cutlets), spätzle (German pasta), dumplings, roasted meats and vegetables. In regards to drinks, beer is the number one choice in Bavaria. Germans also appreciate a good glass of wine as well!
During my time in Munich, I savored authentic German food at Hotel Laimer Hof. They also recommended an authentic local restaurant in walking distance to the hotel called Wirtshaus Kurgarten. At this authentic German restaurant, I enjoyed a delicious spätzle dish with fried onions and a light gravy. It was delicious!
In addition to the delicious food at the German Christmas markets, you must enjoy these authentic Munich restaurants:
- Steinheil 16 (German Austrian Restaurant)
- Pepe Nero (Italian Restaurant)
- L’Osteria (Italian Restaurant)
- Dallmayr Delicatessen (German Deli and Café)
- Ratskeller (German Restaurant)
- Vinaiolo (Mediterranean Restaurant)
Enjoy a Day Trip to Neuschwanstein Castle from Munich in December:
In addition to experiencing the German Christmas markets in Munich, I also recommend touring Neuschwanstein Castle during your time in Bavaria!
On my second day in Germany, I booked a private tour from Munich to Neuschwanstein Castle. The reason why I booked a tour is because there is no easy way to get to this part of Bavaria unless you rent a car, which I did not. There is also no major train station near the castle to keep in mind.
I had been admiring this enchanting castle on the Internet for years, so it was a dream come true for me to see it in person for the first time!
I met my tour group in the Munich Hauptbahnhof and we took a private bus to the Bavarian town of Hohenschwangau, which was an hour and 45 minutes southwest of Munich, near the Austrian border.
On our way to the castle, we passed through storybook towns as well as the gorgeous German mountainside.
Eventually, we spotted a little castle on the mountain from afar and immediately recognized it as Neuschwanstein! It was breathtaking from a distance, so I couldn’t wait to see what it looked like up close.
When we first got to the town, we grabbed a quick lunch since the tour was going to take us a few hours. If you are visiting Neuschwanstein Castle on your own, I suggest checking out one of the adorable restaurants located in Hohenschwangau.
Since my group was in a hurry, there was a great sausage stand right outside of Hotel Alpenstuben. I got a bratwurst sandwich with some pomme frites (fries) and it was yummy!
After lunch, our tour started. The best part about the tour was that our guide, who was super enthusiastic, made an entertaining story out of the day.
Prior to visiting the castle, I had the slightest clue on the history behind Neuschwanstein Castle. A cool fact about this castle is that it was the inspiration behind the Walt Disney World Castle!
Our first stop was to see the Alpsee Lake, which is a peaceful body of water with faint views of the Austrian Alps from afar.
After that, we went to a viewing point of where you could spot Hohenschwangau Castle. This castle dates back to the 12th century and was home to the knights of Schwangau. In the 19th century, Crown Prince Maximilian acquired the structure and rebuilt it as the stunning castle it is today.
After his death, his son Ludwig II designed the royal rooms. It is an enchanting castle and a cool site to see as well.
After learning the history behind Hohenschwangau Castle, we hiked an hour up the mountain (with a few stops in between) to the stunning Neuschwanstein Castle (there are also buses that will take you to Neuschwanstein Castle in case you cannot or do not want to do the hike).
When we finally reached the castle, I was awestruck by how beautiful it was. I even went inside, but unfortunately wasn’t allowed to take any photographs. There is an expanse history behind Neuschwanstein Castle and it all has to do with King Ludwig II of Bavaria.
In 1866 Bavaria allied with Austria having lost a war against the expanding Prussia, which was a German state. Bavaria had to accept an alliance, which removed the king’s right to dispose over his army in case of any future war.
From then on, Ludwig II was no longer a sovereign ruler. It ended up being the biggest misfortune of his legacy. In 1867, he began planning his own kingdom in the form of castles and palaces.
Since Ludwig loved hiking and spending time in nature, he built his castle so that it would be perfectly situated in the mountains. A cool fact about Neuschwanstein Castle is that Ludwig made it to be one of the most modern castles in the world. (There is running water and central heating!)
Ludwig lived comfortably and in solitude at Neuschwanstein Castle in Germany. On the contrary, the “poetic solitude” that he chose for himself was not compatible with his duties as a head of state.
In 1886, the government declared Ludwig mentally insane, arrested him in the castle and then sent him to Berg Palace to be treated. The next day, he died mysteriously in a nearby lake with the psychiatrist who certified him as insane. It is unknown if a murder suicide happened.
I was not expecting the history behind Neuschwanstein Castle to be that intense, but it made the experience more interesting.
After we left the castle, we walked over to Queen Mary’s Bridge where we enjoyed the best views of the castle. When we were finished taking photos, we found a shortcut down to the bottom of the mountain.
Overall, I had an amazing day at Neuschwanstein Castle even though it rained and snowed on us. It was a nice change-off from the incredible Germany Christmas markets in Munich!
I highly recommend signing up for a private day tour of this lovely castle if you are traveling to Munich or around Bavaria. It is 10 hours long and our awesome tour guide rewarded us with fresh Bavarian beer during the ride home. It was perfect!
Looking to visit other German Christmas markets? Check out the below:
Christmas Markets of Frankfurt and Cologne
Best Christmas Markets in Bavaria
I hope you all enjoyed reading about my time experiencing the magical German Christmas markets in Munich as well as my day trip to Neuschwanstein Castle. If you have any questions, please email me at info@browneyedflowerchild.com.
Basic Facts of Germany:
Currency: Euro, Capital: Berlin, Time Zone: Central European Standard Time
*Anything could happen during your travels. Always make sure you are insured in case there are unforeseen circumstances such as lost luggage/theft, natural disasters, personal liabilities and more. Click here to get insured for your next trip.
In addition, a great and secure luggage storage to utilize during your summer Europe trip is Nannybag! It is easy to use; all you do is download the Nannybag app, type in the city that you will be visiting and when you plan to arrive and depart. At a small cost per luggage, Nannybag will list the stores, restaurants or hotels where you could drop your bag off at the city you are visiting.
Nannybag is also insured against theft, loss and breakage. It’s a convenient way to store your bags when you are traveling from one city to the next in Europe.
Shop My Munich German Christmas Market Look:
Click here to shop my Poshmark closet!
10 Comments
Nice, Christmas Celebration in Bavaria, Germany sounds amazing! This year i booked my Germany visa uk for Berlin’s Christmas Garden. But next year i’ll definitely book my visa for Germany to explore this amazing Christmas Market. Thanks
The holiday atmosphere makes visiting these places even more enjoyable. Every corner and every institution gives amazing emotions from being here
Munich looks so beautiful. It sounds like you had an amazing trip there! I love historical places to visit and the visit to the neuschwanstein castle looks so interesting!
I love Munich, it’s a lovely city. The Christmas markets are one of the few things that I actually love about our cold winters haha
Oh yay!!! Thank you for posting this!! We are planning a trip very similar in late November (when the markets open) and I’m SO excited!!!
Leave a Comment
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Best Fall Weekend Trips from NJ: Top Road Trip Ideas
Nice, Christmas Celebration in Bavaria, Germany sounds amazing! This year i booked my Germany visa uk for Berlin’s Christmas Garden. But next year i’ll definitely book my visa for Germany to explore this amazing Christmas Market. Thanks
That sounds amazing! How exciting!!! I’m also planning on doing another Christmas market trip next year where I’ll check out Northern Germany.
The holiday atmosphere makes visiting these places even more enjoyable. Every corner and every institution gives amazing emotions from being here
Oh yes, Europe is magical during the holiday season. Thank you!
Munich looks so beautiful. It sounds like you had an amazing trip there! I love historical places to visit and the visit to the neuschwanstein castle looks so interesting!
It really was Beth! I loved it. I definitely would love to go back for Oktoberfest one year. 🙂
I love Munich, it’s a lovely city. The Christmas markets are one of the few things that I actually love about our cold winters haha
Yes, it’s absolutely dreamy!
Oh yay!!! Thank you for posting this!! We are planning a trip very similar in late November (when the markets open) and I’m SO excited!!!
Of course! That is so excited Merrie! You’re going to have an amazing time. It’s so magical! 🙂